Apparatus for tensioning running strands



`lune 12, 1951 s. c. NELSON APPARATUS RoR .TENsYIoNING RUNNING s'rRANDs Find spt. 27, 1946 Patented June 12,Y 1951 APPARATUS FOR TENSIONING RUNNING STRANDS Seddon C. Nelson, Front Royal, Va., assignor to American Viscose Corporation, Wilmington, Del., a corporation of Delaware Application September 27, 1946, Serial No. 699,734

3 Claims.

This invention relates to tension devices and is particularly concerned with an improved tension device of simple compact form comprising a pair of helical coils mounted on approximately parallel axes for relative translatory movement in a direction transverse of their axes to and from interdigitating positions.

In the drawing illustrative of the invention,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal transverse cross-Section of one embodiment of the invention,

Figure 2 is a section on line II-II of Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a section on line III-III of Figure 1, and

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section through a modification.

With reference to the embodiment of Figures 1 to 3, the tension device comprises a helical coil 2 and a similar helix 3 carried on rods 4 and 5 respectively. The mounting is such as to allow relative translatory movement between the coils from the interleaved or interdigitating position shown in Figures 1 and 3 to the offset position shown in dotted lines in Figure 3.

The coil 2 comprises a plurality of convolutions spaced apart sutliciently to accommodate at least partial entrance of the convolutions of coil 3 into the overlapping or interdigitating position shown in solid lines in Figures 1 and 3. The coils 2 and 3 are secured at one or more points to the supporting rods 4 and 5 respectively. When the coils are of a rigid material, securement to the rod at one or two points, such as at the two end convolutions, is adequate, but if they are of an easily flexed resilient material, it is preferable to secure each convolution to the rod, as by soldering, welding, or cementing. As specifically shown each convolution may be received in a recess or groove in the rod to make the unit more compact.

Rod 4 is secured xedly such as by press fitting its end 4a into a bore within a base The other end 4b may likewise be secured in a bore in a plate 'I which may be cylindrical and fit within a recess 8 in a housing 9 of tubular or sleeve-like construction whose other end ts upon a shoulder I of the base 6.

Rod 5 is rotatably mounted in suitable bores in base 6 and plate 1, and has a bifurcate end 5a projecting into recess 8 beyond plate 1. A cap or bonnet II nts rotatably within the end of recess 8 and has a detent pin I2 projecting laterally therefrom to engage a selected one of a plurality of notches I3 provided in the adjacent rim of the sleeve 9. A spring I4 is coiled about the end 5a of rod 5 and has one end projecting Cil through the slit between the prongs of 5a and the other end projecting away from the coil to a position of securement at I5, as by embedding the bent portion of the end into the bonnet.

'Ihe bonnet I I, plate l, and base E are provided with bores It, Il and I3 respectively, to provide for passage of the yarn through the device. This is necessary in the specific embodiment shown in which the housing, bonnet, and base enclose the device entirely, though it is obvious that such enclosure is not necessary in all situations. Such enclosure is advantageous when the device is used in a multiple-twist type of twister in which case it is provided with a stem I9 having a bore 28 aligned with lbores I6, I1 and I8 and with the passages of the fixed coil 2. The stem I9 is detachably secured, as by a screw thread 2l to the holder 22 receiving the package 23. The holder 22 has an aligned bore 24 and the strand 25 proceeds from the package through bores I6, Il, through the convolutions of the coils 2 and 3, bores I8, 20 and 2li on its way to the ultimate collecting position. This conventional form of twister may be of the specic form shown in my co-pending application Serial No. 580,409, led March l, 1945 now Patent 2,442,775, dated June 8, 1948.

For lacing up the device, the operator lists bonnet II to move pin I2 out of engagement with notches I3 and turns the bonnet clockwise to bring the coil 3 into the interdigitating solid line position of Figure 3, This provides a free and open longitudinal passage of considerable crosssectional area common to both coils to facilitate the first introduction of the thread, through the tension device, as by a hook. After lacing up, the operator turns bonnet II, counterclockwise until the convolutions of Coil 3 are displaced to the desired extent from the convolutions of coil 2, thus providing a tortuous or sinuous path of the strand over the alternate convolutions of the two coils. The desired relative position of thecoils is set 4by inserting pin I2 into the nearest appropriate notch I3. During operation, it will be observed that spring lli resiliently opposes movement of coil 3 in either direction. Such movement is possible, however, and serves to compensate for sudden rises in tension caused by momentary resistances to withdrawal from the package.

In Figure 4 there is shown a modification in which the coils 2 and 3 are carried by rods 4 and 5 respectively. Rod 4 is iixedly secured in bores in bonnet I Ia and plate Ia so that the passage through the convolutions of coil `2 is in alignment with the bores l5 (in the bonnet) and l'la (in plate la). Rod E is rotatably mounted in bores in bonnet lla and plate 'la and has its bifurcate end 5a projecting into a recess or chamber 8c between the plate la and base '6a. The sleeve 9a encloses the tension unit except for a slot 2% extending partially around the periphery adjacent the base tu and provided with notches IBa.

The coil spring lfic surrounding the prongs 5a has one end extending therebetween and the other end lilo projecting through the slot 2E. This latter end Mio" serves as a lever and is provided with a bent end Etc to facilitate manipulation thereof externally of the housing Qa. A cup-shaped shroud or skirt 2i may be secured to the base @c to surround the projection lila to prevent any possible entanglement of the strand thereon.

The remaining elements are the same as described in connection with Figures l and S. The operation is simi1 i to that in Figure 3 except anipulating the bonnet llc,

e fr

in the desired notch i3d. The lever leo is normally biassed by spring Mio into engagement with the notches rThe present invention provides a compact tension device which is particularly useful in situations, such as illustrated hereinabove, where .a relatively long but narrow space is available. Its use is possible in such situations oy virtue of the fact that its adjustment or a translatory relative movement of the coils in all positions o which their axes are substantially parallel, such movement preferably being such that each in vidual point in such coils as move lies at all tiznes in a ilat plane at right angles to the axes of the coils. Such translatory adiustnient has another important advantage, viz., that each convolution exerts substantially the same tensioning ei'lect as This not only avoids ezc ssive friction against the strand a few convo utions (as is the case ca'ngs about an axis at one end at right angles to the axis of the helix) ach other of the coil.

provides a more duasting tension device.

e. g., spring steel, l rleiible, trudecl plastics, such as v iyl resins, polyvinylidene chloride, urea-fornialdehyuc or phenobforinaldehyde resins, cese acetate, nylon, etc, Both coils 2 and S be ri hand coils or they be lefteliand coils. fever,y in the pre-- ferred embodiments specifically shown one is right-hand (coil 2) and the other is left-hand (coil 3). rhe latter system provides the most uniform spacing between the adjacent convolutions of the two coils and allows the greatest number of convolutions in a given length of tension device.

It is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A tension device comprising two helical coils each having spaced convolutions, means for mounting the coils for relative movement comprising two relatively movable parallel supporting rods one for each coil, each convolution of each coil being nxedly secured to its respective rod with the axis of the coil substantially parallel to the rod.

2. A tension device comprising two helical coils each having spaced convoiutions, a housing surrounding the coils, parallel supporting rods one for each coil, a plurali v of convolutions of each coil being xedly d to its respective rod with the ci the coil substantially parallel to the rod, one or said being fixed, the other being rotatably niounted cn axis extending longitudinally of the rod, adjusting means cornprising a manipulative member extending outside the housing for rotating the latter rod about its axis to move the coil secured thereto to a predetermined position relative to the fixed coil, and resilient means connecting and secured to the manipulative member and the rotatably mounted rod for opposing while permitting rotation of the movable coil from said predetermined relative position.

3. A tension device comprising two helical coils, each ng spaced convolutions, a hous ing su 1round vig the coils, parallel supporting rods one for each coil, a plurality of convolu- 'tions of each coil being secued to its respective rod with the axis of coil substantially parallel to the rod, one of said rods being fixed, the other being rotatably mounted on axis, adjusting means comprising a manipulative member outside the housing for rotating the latter rod about its axis to move the coil secured thereto to a predetermined position relative to the iixed coil, and a spring attached to the rotatable rod and having a lever extension thereof extending through the housing and terminating in the manipulative member for opposing while permitting rotation of the movable coil from said predetermined relative position.

SEDDON C. NELSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 613,474 Richards Nov. 1, 189,8 1364292 Crau/ford June l0, 1913 2,209,398 Garrett uuly 30, 1940 2,245,496 MeI-Iale Jilne Yl), 194,1 2,397,153 Naumann Mar. 26, 1945 

